Automatic sizing mechanism



Aug. 4, 1936. R. E. w. HARRISON ET AL 2,049,611

AUTOMATIC SIZING mcmxmsm Filed Sept. 27, 1929 3 Sheets-Shet 1 P0135121- EWHARRLSON CECIL. W. HOPKINS R. E. W. HARRISON ET AL AUTOMATIC SIZING MECHANISM I Aug. 4!, 1936.

Filed Sept. 27, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 M nimum gm nntou R0552? E. W HARRISON CECIL W HoPmNs R. E. W. HARRISON ET AL AUTOMATIC SIZING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 27, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 gmc 'wto w ROBERT E VV. HARRISON 6501/. W HOPKINS Patented Aug. 4, 1936 not. a. w. Harrison and asslgnors ted, Cincinnati, Ohio, at

Cincinnati, Ohio. Grinders Incorpora corporation of Ohio Cecil W. Hopkins, to Cincinnati Application September 21, 1929, Serial No. 395,689 8 Claims. (l. 51-10:)

This invention relates to improvements in 7 machine tools and particularly to a mechanism for facilitating the production therein of successive work pieces of uniform size. The invention in question is particularly applicable to metal working machines employing abrasive wheels or the like for removal of stock from the work. Ordinarily, in various forms of grinding, both surface grinding and cylindrical grinding of various types, dimculty is experienced in maintaining uniformity of size ofsuccessive work pieces, due to the fact that the abrasive member employed tends to wear .down or itself decrease in-diameter or vary in effective position as respects the work engagement. In precision production of cylindrical and other articles of grinding, modern tolerances have been reduced to a fractionalthousandth of an inch, rendering ordinarily necessary a practically continuous manual gaging of the several work pieces produced, to

determine their accuracy.

One of the objects of the present invention 1.

the provision of a mechanism particularly useful when a series of.corresponding articles are to be produced by a machine, which mechanism will serve automatically to determine the thickness or diameter of the individual work pieces and 'produce a feeding or adjusting movement of the 1 machine of prop degree to compensate for size position of the operative face 'of the grinding or stock removing' member as respects the work supporting mechanism.

A further object of the invention is the proviwhich shall be 'operatively eifectlve for determination of the thickness of the work, only when variations of the work due towear or variance in sion of a mechanism for the purpose. aforesaid the normal grinding operation thereon has been I completed.

,40 An additional object of the present invention is the provision of means for automatically rendering the gage mechanism operative in predetermined. relation to the normal relative feeding movements of the work and metal removing tool.

An additional object of the present invention is the provision of. an improved size determining and wheel wear compensating mechanism which will be capable of ready application to and utilization in conjunction with infeed type 'centerless grinding machines for maintenance of proper diameter of successive work pieces produced thereother, objects and advantages of the present invention should be readily apparent by reference to the following specification considered in con- Junction with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, and it will be understood that we may make any modifications in the specific 4 structural details hereinafter disclosed within the scope of the appended claims, without de- 5 parting from or exceeding the spirit of. the invention. v

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a centerless grinder with the improved size maintaining mechanism applied thereto. 10 Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the work and associate parts at the grinding throat of the machine.

Figure 3 is a semi-diagrammatic view illustrating the work receiving throat and the control 15 mechanisms coupled with the gage member within the throat.

Figure 4 is a section through the combined manual and automatic wheel adjusting mechanism, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Figure 5 is a vertical section on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a view artly in section on line 6-0 of Figure 5 with the valve bushing shown in elevation.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view through the manual and automatic wheel head position adjusting mechanism and control elements associated therewith.

Figure 8 is a plan view of said mechanism with 30 parts broken away.

- Figure 9 is a transverse of Figures 7 and 8..

In the drawings the invention has been shown as utilized in conjunction with what is commercially known as a eenterless grinder, comprising a bed l5 having suitably journaled thereon a grinding wheel i6 operable at a high grinding rate of speed in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1. Bed It further serves to support slide ll carryin the work rest bracket i8 and supporting a second slide i9 movable with and relative to the slide i1. Slide i9 supports the regulating wheel unit 20, including regulating wheel 2| disposed in opposition to the grinding wheel for maintaining the work in operative engagement therewith. This latter wheel rotates in a clockwise direction at a slow rate of speed to control .the rotation of the work during the grinding operation. The work itself is normally supported by a work rest blade 22 secured in member It.

The present application of the invention is shown as utilized in conjunction with infeed grinding, which is a term employed to denote the fact that the work is normally held against axial section as on line fl-e-t threadedengagement with nut 20. -Said screw is advance or progression between the wheels d uring grinding and the amount of stock removed from the work piece or, in other words, the final ultimate diameter thereof is determined by the libel separation and spacing of the opposed work contacting points on the surfaces of the grinding and regulating wheels respectively.

Thatthis distance may be automatically varied or the wheels opened and closed when dealing with successive work pieces, a nut 23 is rotatably secured to unit 2|. An adjusting screw 24 is in rotatably but nontranslatably journaled in slide block 25 carried by guides 2 of the housing 21 supported from the bed it by a bracket member II. The screw 24 projects beyond this housing and bears a pilot wheel 2! for rotation of the screw within the sleeve nut 23. This varies the distance between regulating wheel unit a and slide block 25; It is to be noted that slides I1 and I8 arecoupleable as by a clamp 30 for joint or independent adiustment through screw 24.

Coupled with slide block 25, as through links 3|, is an oscillatable intermediately pivoted bell crank 1 lever 32 having a pin or roller 33 engaged in groove 34 ofcam 3i driven by a worm and worm ear connection 3' from motor 31. The path of the cam is particularly illustrated in connection withFigure3 and isofsuchcharacterthatos- Jcillation of the lever 31, eflectedthereby, will cause a rapid movement of the regulating wheel in the direction of the grinding wheel to urge-a work piece into operative engagement with the grinding wheel, followed by a slow relative feeding movement, during which the proper amount of stock may be ground from the work piece, a

subsequent dwell for sparking out grinding to attain utmost accuracy in the finished work piece, followed by a rapid separation of the grinding and regulating wheels to permit removal ofthe tini'shed workpiece and insertion of a new part to be ound While the screw 2! permits of what might be termed a coarse relative adjustment of the shift blockand unit, to compensate for wear of either v tive engagement with the ratchet, while in its -derl8formedinthebracketll. Thispistonis' position abutment screw ",by eniagement withinclined terminal portion IQ of pawl, serves both to limit the retracting movementofthepartsaccordingtotheparticularam iu'stment of screw 49 and also to force and hold the pawlin disengaged relation to the ratchet,

-- {whereby spindle 40 may be readily manually rotated in either direction, as desired, for adiust ment of the sleeve.

Oscillatory'actuation of the pawl and its carriermemberllmaybeeifectedasbyrack formed on reciprocable piston 52 sliding in cylinadapted to be hydraulically actuated in one direction or the other by means of a suitable actue ating mediumsuchasoilunder head or pressure. introduced by way ofconduit I4 and exhaustible through the conduit 55. A control valve mechanism is disposed within the bracket 4 l including a suitable ported sleeve or bushing 56 containing a reciprocable valve 51 movable toward the left, as viewed in Figures 5 and 6, by the action 5 of solenoid 58 and returnable by spring 59. The porting of the several valve parts is such that when the solenoid is energized, the valve will be shifted to the position shown in Figures 3 and 5, when the ilow of energizing fluid will be from conduit 54 to the rlghthand end of cylinder 53, ur n piston 52 to the left. This will cause a clockwise rotation of the pawl carrier 46, pawl 45 then engaging with ratchet 4 partially to rotate spindle l0 and worm 39. This acts on nut 23 to attain a line inward feeding adjustment of the regulating wheel unit with respect to its control block. The amount of this adjustment may be determined by desired positioning 0! the piston movement limiting abutment screws 60.

-On the de-energization of the solenoid 58, spring 59 will shift the control valve in a're'verse direction, reversing the flow of actuating medium to return the piston 52 and associate parts to the position indicated in Figure 4, the pawl moving idly over the ratchet and being ultimately shifted out of'engagement therewith during this return movement. I

The energization and de-energization of the solenoid is determined by a pair of circuit opening and closing members located in the general electrical control circuit of the machine, which has been particularly illustrated in connection with Figure 3. Secured to the work rest bracket I8 is a housing 61 having ivoted therein lever 63 formed with a work eng ing feeler or shoe 84 beveled as at 65 to facilitate sliding of a work piece thereunder. A spring 60, interp'oud between the outer portion of the lever and the housing 62, serves to urge said portion upward and thus press the shoe downward in the direcjion of the work to an extent limited by the adjustable abutment screw 61. Oppositly, the lever is provided with a spring contact C8 coupled with wire or conductor 88 of one portion of the circuit. This spring contact is adapted to be held by an oversize work piece in engagement with a stationary contact 10 coupled through conductor II with one terminal of a source I! foielectrical current. The other terminal is connected by conductor 13 with solenoid 88, from which a conductor I4 extends for completion of the actuating circuit by way of a circuit breaker ll. Themake and break contact at this point iscoupledwithabellcranklthavingaroller I1 riding on the periphery of the feed controlcam ll and maintained in engagement there- Within spring II, the circuitbclng normally open. when cam 35 has rotated to a position producing maximum inward, movement 0!. the so wheel in the directionofthegrinding wheel and'is maintaining the parts in tbispo- -sitionfor a sparking-out dwell, the piece presum-' ably having been reduced to minimum diameter for the prescribed setting of the machine, ri'ser s5:

0r lug I! on the periphery of the cam engages rolleri'll, rocking the bell crank and actuating unit I! to complete the circuit between conductors I! and 14 At this time, it the work piece has been reduced a proper amount, the feeler 63 will have oscillated an amount suincient to. break the circultJO-H at-apoint 08-" and there will be no energization of solenoid II. However, if the work piece is slightly oversize, due forfexampleu v I 2,046,011 I c. A matinee or e m a amanm the surface or the grinding wheel duringoperation. on a series of pieces, the parts 08-40 will remain in-circuit completing engagement when the work is at' the sparking-out point, and the circuit being thus completed both at "-10 and at I, 'the solenoid-will be'enersized and a feeding impetus given to piston, 53

and its associated parts, causing. an additional increment oi" movement to be imparted to the regulating wheel and a slight additional amount of stock. to be removed from. the work piece.

" for various diameters outward and also to permit accurate adjustment thereof for control of size of work pieces of'a given diameter, the member 62 is preferably provided with a slide por- I tion 00- interengaged with the bracket II. An

in desired adjusted position.

adjusting screw 8l' facilitates relative shifting of the parts tovary the general height of the work shoe' as respects the blade 22, while clamp bolts '2 or the equivalent serveto lock the parts It will further be noted that the member I0 is in the form of an adjustable contact screw and that by rotation of this member, a final fine determination of the make and break of the circuit l at this point may be established.

From the foregoing description the operation and advantages of the present invention should be readily apparent and it will be noted that there has been provided an improved work size determining mechanism suitable for'con'stant ensagement with a work piece during the performance' of a grinding or like operation thereon, a

normally inoperative feed mechanism, and connections between said parts whereby the operative effect of. the feed mechanism is determinedby the position of the gage mechanism as determined by the diameter of the pre-grou'nd or substantially completed work piece.

It will further be noted that there has been provided an improved automatic or self adjusting mechanism for the production of a series of a corresponding work pieces wherein the grinding is eiiected by a relative'approach and separationiofwork" and grinding member of predetermined amplitude and in which the control mechanism is independent of said relative shifting of the parts but serves to effect a supplemental variation of position of the reciprocating member andthe shift mechanism therefor, to com-' pensate for wear of the grinding wheel'or other stock removing member.

What is claimed is: 1. A machine of the character described including a. tool, means for .supporting workin oppositionto the tool, power means for automatisally effecting relative movement of said parts, one toward and from the other to operatively relate succcessive work pieces to the tool, a feed adjusting mechanism, anindependent power actuator therefor, and means for automatically controlling the operation of thesame in accord- "ancewith the wear of the tool, saidsupplemental power means including a hydraulic actuating circuit, said control means includingan electrical control circuit for determining the operation of the hydraulic means. v

eluding a tool, means for supporting work in opposition to the tool. power means for automatically electing relative movement of ,said parts. one towardandirom the 'otlier to operativels re- 5 late successive work pieces to the tool, a feed adiusting mechanism, anindependent power actuator therefor, means for automatically. controliing'j theoperation of the same in accord'aiwe w th the wear of the tech said supplementalpower means including a hydraulic actuating circuit. said control means including an electricaleohtrol circuit for determining the operation of the hydraulic means. and means in series relation with the that mentioned source 0! power lfor determining the effective'coupiing'of theelectricalcontrol circuit in timed relation to the feeding movement.

3. In a mechanism of the-{character described,- the combinationlwithasupport of a tool mounted thereonfawork' carrier unitmounted onthe 20 support in opposition tothe toolrone ofsaid-parts being movable with respectto themther, means for causing a relativeapproach and separation .of said parts for operativelysrelating successive work pieces with the tool, said means includingacam 2 shifting the movable part-in- ,a1 pathoi' prescribed amplitude, supplemental means for varying the relationship of the shifted'iiart with respect to the cam, manual means for e'li'ecting said adjustment, and additional automatic means for adiusting the parts, said automatic including an electrical control circuit and means on the cam for determining the operative 'eifect of said circuit.

4. In a mechanism of the character described, 35

the combination with a support of a tool mountedthereon, a work carrier unit mounted on the support in opposition to the tool, one of said parts being movable with respect to the other, means for causing a relative approach and separationof said parts for operatively, relating successive work pieces with the tool, said means including a cam shifting the movable part in a path of prescribed amplitude, supplemental means for varying the relationship of the shifted part with respect to the cam, manual {means for eilecting said adjustment, and additional automatic. means for adjusting the parts, sa'i'd automatic means including an electrical control circuit, a normally open switch in the circuit and'mea'ns on the cam for automatically closing the switch during a predetermined portion of the cycle .of movement of the feed unit as effected bythe cam.

5. In a centerless grinder oi the class described the combination of a bed, a'pair'of oppo ed grinding and. regulating wheels thereby and forming a grinding throat tlierebetwee'n, a work rest blade sub-tending the""grlnding throat for peripherally supporting a work piece within the said throat, a slide supporting the regulating wheel and work support for. movement toward-- and from the grinding wheel to eiiect a stock. removal from the work, means for eilectingsaid cyclic movement of the slide, means within the grinding throat and overlyinglthe work rest blade and adapted to contact the work while on the-blade, an electrical circuit including the work contacting. member for partially completing said 7 circuit if the work is oversize, and additional means in said circuit operable at the end of the slide movement toward the' grinding wheel for completing the electrical-circuit and eileoting-a further movement of the. slide. 6. In a centerlessg'rinder of the class described the combination or a pair of opposed grinding and I regulating .wheels' forming a grinding throat between them, awork rest blade sub-tending the grinding throat and supporting a work piece within the throat, means for cyclically enlarging and contracting the grinding throat to produce successive work pieces to the same size, gauging means including a work teeler disposed within the grinding throat and-operable by the work it of ;an oversize when the grinding throat is com-- pletely contracted, an electrical circuit including the work ieeler; and circuit closing means associ'ated with the throat operating means for efl'ecting a,i'urther feed of the parts it the work piece is oversize at the conclusion of the normal feeding cycle. Y

7'. In a centerless grinder-oi! the class described the combination of a pair of opposed grinding and regulating wheels forming a grinding throat between them, a work rest blade suhtending the grinding throat and supporting a work piece within the throat, means IoncyclicalLyenlarging and contracting the grinding throat to produce successive work pieces to the samesize, gauging means including a work teeler disposed within the grinding throat and operable by the workif 'oi' an oversize when the grinding throat is completely contracted, an electrical circuit including the work teeler, circuit closing means associated with ,the throat operating means for eflecting a further feed of the parts it the work piece is oversize at the conclusion 0! the normal feeding cycle,

and additional manual means for varying the 5- size 0! the throat.

8. In a center-less grinder oi the class described the combination of a pair of opposed grinding and regulating wheels forming a grinding throat between them, a: work rest blade subtending the 10 grinding throat and supporting a work piece within the throat, means for cyclically enlarging and contracting the grinding throat to produce successive work pieces to the same size, gauging means including a work feeler disposed within the 16 grinding throat and operable by the work if of an oversize when the grinding throat is completely ROBERT E. W. HARRISON. CECIL W. HOPKINS. 

